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Having a veteran team will come in Handy for tennis team

By Haley Gaidosh

Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: Sports
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Junior Lara Rizzi returns a volley during a match last spring. Rizzi, along with her teammates, have high expectations for the fall after a record-breaking season last year.
Media Credit: Archive Photo
Junior Lara Rizzi returns a volley during a match last spring. Rizzi, along with her teammates, have high expectations for the fall after a record-breaking season last year.
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The women's tennis team has good reason to have high expectations for the upcoming season.

Last year, the tennis team set a school record with 23 wins in 29 dual matches, earned a berth in the NCAA Division II postseason competition and took 3rd place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Team Championships.

Head Coach Matt Meredith is also very happy with the incoming freshmen and the fact he only graduated one player.

"This may be the strongest, deepest team here yet," Meredith said.

The team is very young with three freshmen, Samantha Blackburn, Chelsea Gibson and Kelly Stenger. The dynamic duo of Kayla Blackburn and Laura Handy adds a lot of experience. They were both honored with All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West honors in singles and doubles competition last season.

"Anyone on the team can step out and play," Meredith said.

SRU will be looking to their core of three juniors-Kayla Blackburn, Christina Rhodes and Lara Rizzi-for leadership with such a young team.

Kayla Blackburn, the third player in Rock history to record 100 career wins, knows what it takes to be successful while being a leader for her team at the same time.

"We lost in the finals last year in the PSAC, so we definitely want to make it to nationals," Blackburn said.

She also said that she's looking forward to this season and is eager to help improve their record. She is also aware of the large possibilities for herself individually and as a team this year.

Not only does the tennis team have Kayla Blackburn back for two more years, but also her younger sister Samantha, who is an incoming freshman for Coach Meredith's squad. He expects her to be an impact player from the start.

Sophomore Laura Handy, last spring's PSAC-West "Rookie of the Year", is another reason for Meredith to be excited for this year.
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